Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Pacific Ocean: Southern Queensland to central New South Wales and Lord Howe Island and New Caledonia areas
Size: 10 inches (25 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits fairly shallow lagoon and rocky reefs at depths between 10 - 200 feet (3 - 60 m) and feeds mainly on sponges and tunicates.
General Husbandry: This very beautiful angelfish, which is rarely available in the trade, has a upper body half that is bluish grey, with its lower portion much darker and almost black at the bottom. Its face is a yellowish with blue lips and blue rings around the eyes. Its dorsal and anal fins are black and edged in yellow and the front portion of the tail is yellow, with the remainder black. An extraordinary combination of colors, and quite different between juveniles and adults, and areas of collection.
When first introduced into the aquarium, preferably a well-established fish-only aquarium with lots of live rock and cave areas, it should be offered several daily feedings so as to quickly acclimate it to its surroundings. As to diet, a wide variety of frozen foods including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and especially those containing sponge matter/angelfish food preparations should be offered once or twice a day after its acclimated to its surroundings. Some flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina should also be offered, as algae, especially Spirulina is a healthy addition to all that consume it, as will this species in captivity.
Depending upon its tankmates, it can be quite shy when first entering the aquarium, and may hide in caves and crevices. But as time passes, will become more outgoing and begin to establish its territory. Nevertheless, those in this genus, as those in the genus Apolemichthys, are almost always very good tankmates and considered one of the least aggressive in the family.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Chaetodontoplus
FYI: Keeping more than one genus of angelfishes in the same aquarium is possible, yet depends upon several aspects. The following suggested circumstances are just that, possibilities that when heeded and adjusted to actual aquarium conditions ‘may’ make multiple angelfish collections feasible.
Aquarium size – the larger the better.
Other species from the same genus should not be in the same aquarium.
The smallest and most docile genus species should be the first introduced with the largest and most malicious the last to be added.
Do not place similar coloration species in the same aquarium.
Those already in the aquarium should be well fed before adding a newcomer.
Have sufficient hiding places/rocky caves.
Keep in mind all angels have cheekspines at the edge of their gill cover; therefore use caution when handling and also avoid using a net to capture it, as it may become stuck or tangled in the net and become damaged when removed.
Synonym - Holacanthus conspicillatus
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Reef Safe: No - will nip clam mantles, large and small polyped stony (LPS/SPS) corals and some soft corals.
Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons
Temperature Range: 66 - 75°F (19 – 24°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
